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"Acceleration is an educational intervention that moves students through an educational program at a faster than usual rate or younger than typical age." (Colangelo et al., 2004) This means, matching academic content to a student's developmental readiness.

Acceleration can come in many shapes and sizes that include, but are not limited to:
-Early entrance into school/college or skipping grades
-Content based acceleration or Curriculum Compacting
-Distance learning or self-paced instruction
-Equivalency courses/exams: Dual enrollment programs, AP classes, IB programs, credit by exam

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Current research dictates that a very large population of students are currently performing above grade level.

20–40 percent of elementary and middle school students perform at least one grade level above their current grade in Reading, with 11–30 percent scoring at least one grade level above in Math.

Based on MAP testing data, it was found that 8–10 percent of Grade 4 students perform at the Grade 8 level in Reading Language Arts, with 2–5 percent scoring at similar levels in Math.

Holding students back from their academic potential can contribute to poor work habits and negative attitudes about learning.

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The United States is likely wasting its precious education dollars on teaching students what they already know.

However, acceleration can actually save money!

Most methods of acceleration are free and can actually create more academically homogenous classroom environments which leads to less prep time for teachers.

AP classes and exams make it possible for High School Students to earn college credit. This can save families' hard earned money on college tuition.

Acceleration can be especially helpful for those who are entering careers that require a demanding amount of prerequisite work. Getting young people into the workforce early can strengthen communities and their tax bases.

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4. What happens to the children who are accelerated?

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4. What happens to the children who are accelerated?

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Two recent studies indicated an average of an annual income difference of about 5%, with accelerated individuals earning more money than non-accelerated individuals. These studies also show that the potential benefits of full-grade acceleration could last much longer into adulthood than anyone previously suspected. Another salient result showed that most children who experience full-grade acceleration do not have long-term negative effects and are usually economically productive adults.

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5. How we accelerate our students successfully?

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5. How we accelerate our students successfully?

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Parents must be highly involved in making the process of acceleration successful. Remember, acceleration is not meant to "push" students, it is meant to match them with developmentally appropriate instruction.

Although it has been found that gifted children tend to be socially and emotionally more mature than their same age peers, this process still needs to be planned and executed properly. Educators and parents must take into consideration their student's academic and social/emotional readiness.

The Iowa Acceleration Scale is a proven, effective instrument for helping schools make decisions about whole-grade acceleration.

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Colangelo, N., Assouline, S. G., & Gross, M. U. M. (2004). (rep.). A Nation Deceived: How Schools hold back America's Brightest Students . The Connie Belin & Jacqueline N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development. Retrieved July 31, 2022, from http://www.accelerationinstitute.org/Nation_Deceived/ND_v1.pdf.

Dlugosz, M. (2021, May 6). Types of acceleration. Davidson Institute. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/types-of-acceleration/

Stop wasting money teaching millions of students content they already know. The Thomas B. Fordham Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2022, from https://fordhaminstitute.org/ohio/commentary/stop-wasting-money-teaching-millions-students-content-they-already-know

Warne, R. T. (2017, July 31). Recent studies look at the potential benefits of full-grade acceleration. National Association for Gifted Children. Retrieved July 31, 2022, from http://www.nagc.org/blog/recent-studies-look-potential-benefits-full-grade-acceleration